Sealing composition comprising sulphur-bonded fibrous material



Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK AIiOI-S ADAMSKI, OF FREMONT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CARBONCOM- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEALING COMPOSITION COMPRISING SULPHUR-BONDED FIIBRO'US MATERIAL.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANK A. ADAMSKI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealin CompositionsComprising Sulphur-Eon ed -Fibrous Material, of which the following isa. specification.

This invention relates to the preparation of sealing compositionscomprising sulphur and a fibrous material.

The improved compositions are in gen-.

ices commonly are formed between the pitch.

and the carbon and zinc, permitting objectionable evaporation of theelectrolyte solution, or its exudation when the I cell isshort-circuited or subjected to heavy current drain. p

A further important advantage of the new compositions is their relativestrength and freedom from brittleness, as com ared with pitch, wax, andthe like. 'Also, t e sulphur seal is non-fluent at the highestatmospheric temperatures ordinarily attained, and there is accordinglyno danger of its flowing from the cell. The cold flow of pitch is anobjectionable characteristic. I

In .the preferred form of the invention, a fibrous mineral is mixed withsulphur in fluid condition. Asbestos, serpentine,

' fibrous varieties of talc, or the like, in a proper state ofsubdivision, are suitable. From 2 to 40% of such mineral material may beused, though for most purposes the composition is more readily handledif the per- .centage of the mineral is considerably less than the upperlimit stated. A composition particularly adapted for sealing dry cellscomprises about 80 parts by weight of sulphur and 20 parts of talc.

Application filed February 24, 1923. Serial- No. 621,091.

A sealcomposed of sulphur alone is relatively weak and frangible. Theadmixture of fibrous mineral material corrects these defects and theresulting'seal is durable and effective. Organic fibrous materials maybe usedwith somewhat similar results, but the mineral fibers arepreferred.

In some cases non-fibrous materials may be added to the sulphur-fibercomposition. For example various inert granular substances may be usedas fillers. I have obtained good results with additions of suchmaterials, especiallyv sand, in amounts of from 10% to 40% of the totalweight of the composition. As a specific example, the mixture maycomprise about parts of sulphur, 33 parts of sand, and 7 parts offibrous talc or equivalent mineral material. These proportions may bevaried as desired, so long as there is sufficient sulphur to form asatisfactory bond, and enough fibrous material to insure the requisitestrength in the final product.

The composition maybe prepared most readily by heating the sulphur to180-190 C. and stirring in the fibrous material, together with suchother substances as are to be added. It is desirable to preheat thematerials before mixing them with the sulphur. The resulting product cangenerallg be poured at temperatures of from 125 to 170 C. It is usuallymost satisfactory to apply the sealing composition when at about thelatter temperature. No appreciable diificultyis met in keeping thecomposition homogeneous during the pouring step, as the fibrous materialtends to remain in suspension. When granular materials are presentrather frequent stirringmay be necessary.

I am aware that, compositions comprising sulphur and fibrous andgranular substances have heretofore been suggested for such purposes ascements, plastics for molding, or the like. The present invention, indistinction from the prior art, is based on the discovery thatcompositions of this type are especially effective when used as sealingmeans for galvanic cells, and the invention includes the development ofspecial mixtures suitable for this and other purposes.

Various changes may be made in the here in described specificproportions and pro- Ifclaimz- I 1. A composition for use in sealing andthe like, comprising a mixture of a fibrous material and sulphur, thesulphur being in considerable excess of the fibrous material andconstituting the major ingredient of the composition.

2. The invention accordingto claim 1, in which the fibrous material is afinely di-.

vided mineral.

3. The invention accordlng'to claim 1, in which an. inert granularsubstance is added to the composition.

4', A composition for-use in sealing and 15 the 1ike, comprisin g amixture of sulphur,

fibrous material and an inert granular material, the sulphur being themajor constituent and the proportion of fibrous material being not lessthan about 10% of that of the sulphur.

5. The invention according to claim 4, in which the fibrous material isa finely divided mineral.

6. A composition for use in sealing and the like, comprising a mixtureof about 80 parts by weight of sulphur and 20 parts of a fibrous mineralmaterial.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa-

